Saturday, April 9, 2011 (4:05 p.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (1-1, T2(-0.5), North)
LHP Pat Misch (NR)

Pawtucket Red Sox (1-1, T2(-0.5), North)
RHP Matt Fox (NR)

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons host the Pawtucket Red Sox in the first game of a four-game series at Coca-Cola Field (4:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a split of a two-game series against the Syracuse Chiefs. Buffalo’s first roadtrip of 2011 will start on Wednesday in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

THE DISH ON MISCH: LHP PAT MISCH will make his 2011 debut tonight. The 29-year old was the top southpaw in the IL last season, leading all lefties with 11 wins and finishing 3rd in the entire league with a 3.23ERA. For that, he was named the Bisons Warren Spahn Most Valuable Pitcher. The Bisons were 17-6 in the 23 starts Misch made last season.

MISCH VS. PAWSOX: LHP PAT MISCH made two starts against the Red Sox last season, going 1-0 with a 3.86ERA. He allowed two runs in 4.2 innings of a no-decision on April 15, 2010 before going seven innings in a victory in Pawtucket on April 25, 2010. In that second start, Misch gave up just three runs to beat the Red Sox, 10-3.

EXTRA WINNINGS: The Bisons scored a 13-inning victory last night when OF JASON PRIDIE raced home on a wild pitch from Syracuse’s LHP Matt Chico. The Herd had 11 walk-off victories last year, including one very similar to last night. On May 4, 2010 against Louisville, Pridie was at the plate in the bottom of the ninth when OF Fernando Martinez scored on a wild pitch from Bats’ closer Jon Adkins.

WITH PRIDE: OF JASON PRIDIE had the biggest night at the plate for the Bisons on Friday. The outfielder had three hits, including an RBI-single in the 3rd inning, a booming double in the 8th and the lead-off single that set up the game-winning rally in the 13th. Pridie hit .280 in 40 games with the Bisons last season before a hamstring injury robbed the speedster of 103 games.

VS. RED SOX: The Bisons and Red Sox split their 16-game season series in 2010 with each team winning four home games and four road games. However, Pawtucket won four of the final five games against the Herd last season. Since the Bisons returned to the IL they are 109-99 (.524) against the PawSox.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (3-4) lost their Citi Field Home Opener to the Nationals yesterday, 6-2. It was New York’s third straight loss after starting the season 3-1. Former Bisons C JOSH THOLE had two hits and a walk in the losing effort. Game two of the series is tonight at 7:10 p.m. with LHP CHRIS CAPUANO getting the start.